Mark Martin's resume includes two all-star race victories, including last year during his "Salute to You" tour. Credit: Autostock

2006 All-Star Challenge

7 p.m. ET | Saturday, May 20 | FX | Lowe's Motor Speedway

The Nextel Open

Eligibility

The winner of the Nextel Open, a preliminary event for teams not qualified for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, and another driver who wins the All-Star Challenge Fan Vote become eligible to compete in the All-Star Challenge.

To qualify for the Nextel Open event, drivers must be in the Top 50 of the final 2005 Nextel Cup point standings, or in the Top 50 of the current point standings as of March 13, 2006.

• Distance: 30 laps, 45 miles (run in two segments of 20 laps and 10 laps)

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The All-Star Challenge

Eligibility

• Drivers and car owners who have won races in 2006 and 2005.

If a driver leaves a team with which he has won a race, he remains eligible and the car owner's new driver also is eligible (through the last race before the All-Star Race).

• Past Cup champions in the last 10 years

• Drivers who have won the all-star race in the last 10 years

• The winning driver of the Nextel Open

Note: If 20 drivers are not eligible, winners from previous seasons still active in the Cup Series become eligible for the All-Star Race. All active drivers during that season become eligible, even if the field exceeds 20 competitors.

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How it works

• Distance: 90 laps, 135 miles (run in three segments of 40 laps, 30 laps and 20 laps)

• First Segment: Teams must make a mandatory green-flag, four-tire pit stop during the first segment. This stop must be made after the completion of Lap 14 and before the completion of Lap 16. Pit stops made during cautions will not count toward this pit stop requirement.

• Between Segments 1 and 2, there will be a 10-minute break during which a random drawing will determine if as few as six or as many as 12 cars will be inverted. Teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

• Between Segments 2 and 3 there will be a yellow flag during which teams may elect to pit. They may add fuel, change tires and make normal chassis adjustments. Teams pitting will not retain their position and will restart at the rear of the field in the order they leave pit road. Only green flag laps count during the third segment.

• All restarts will be double file and lapped cars will start at the rear.